LOCAL AND GENERAL

Chronicle (Levin), 23 May 1946, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Work on Bulls Bridge Good progress with the installa-1 tion of concrete piles is being made Dy the contractor engaged on the erection of the new Bulls traffie oridge. The piles appear to be about half completed, and have | been finished over the main stream, which is at present on the Wanganui side of the riverbed. Trotting; Conference Delegates representing trotting ! clubs of the Dominion met in Wellington yesterday to discuss proposals aifecting the welfare of • trotting, which will be placed before the Gaming Commission. The meeting was not open to the Press. II was presided over by the President of the Trotting Conference, Mr. H. F. Nicoll, who .declined to make a statement at the end of proceedings. Hand Print Led to Arrest Roy Vincent, aged 30, bafiman, charged in the Wellington Magistrate's Court with breaking and entering the Bank of New South Wales, Courtney Place, on April 20, was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. ! In the course of the evidence -a detective described the discovery of a Sports Post smelling of gelignite fumes, in a vent leading to the strong room. On this paper was found a palm print which an expert identified with the hand of accused. An Unhealthy Occupation "As a medical authority do you think it is good for me to sit and work under this light the whoie day?" asked Mr. Justice Tyndall in the Arbitration Court at Auckland of Dr. Barbara Roche, who was giving evidence. as to the effect on health of the closing of butchers' shops on Saturdays. "It is not an ideal condition," agreed witness. "111 say it isn't!" responded His Honour. "I suggest that it is not ideal that any strong, vigorous young man should have to sit in a chair all day. Of course, I am chosen for this and have to put up with it." Looking for the Lid At a meeting held iast night -in connection with- the forming oi a Junior Chamber of Commerce in Levin, one of the speakers, Mr. R. H. Beaumont, of Wellington, recalled a humorous incident wiien : the organisation was backing a scrap drive in the capital city. He ( said that he and the late Mr. " C. ; Todd were walking down Courtenay ' Place when they noticed a man j holding a practically new alumin- j ium saucepan by oh^ of the bins. I Mr. Todd reniarked to the mai! that it was very noble of him to con- j tribute such a valuab'le article. The 1 man turned round and said: "I'mj not putting it in; I'm looking for i Ihe lid." Petrol Should be Ample The petrol situation will be muchj improved when the coupon system : has been abolished, according to aj Levin supplier, when asked to comment on the forthcomlng cessation! of rationing by licenses and cou-| pons. Tnere were sufRcient stocks j in the country to restore conditions I to those prevailing before the war, he said, and there will be no possibility of supplies running short before the end of a month. The petrol situation had been compared to that of tobacco. He said the two were not comparable because there was no shortage of petrol as there had been with tobacco. Apart from the Government control of the buik distribution, conditions may be said to be back to norma!. The Battle of Crete The fifth anniversary of the beginning of the Battle of Crete fell on Monday. On the morning of May 20, 1941, the German attack was opened by the dropping of parachute troops and although the defenders, alded by the Royal Navy, inflicted heavy casualties, they were gradually forced back as enemy reinforcements continued to arrive. Air power gave the Germans superior strength and on May 29 the Empire troops began to evacuate the island. Although the Royal Navy performed an outstanding feat in taking 17,000 men off the island; many were left behind. The New Zealand Division was in the thiek of the fierce battle and such names as Maleme, Canea, Galatos and Suda Bay will live in the records of the Division and of the war. After the evacuation of Crete 2800 New Zealanders were reported missing. Most of them were taken prisoner and many of the others later escaped to Egypt.